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The Brazilian by Rosie Millard

I’m delighted to be part of the launch celebrations for Rosie Millard’s latest novel The Brazilian which is a follow up to The Square.

The Brazilian was published on 14th June by Legend Press and is available for purchase in e-book and paperback here.

The Brazilian

Following a sensational scandal at one of London’s most desired postcodes, Jane and Patrick decide to escape the gossip with a family holiday to Ibiza, their eight-year-old son George in tow.

Also on the island that week is a TV reality show involving an eccentric artist, a horny It Girl, a Brazilian footballer and a famous magician.

As hapless celebrities are picked off one by one, Jane is desperate to be on the programme, leaving childcare in the not so capable hands of a teenager.

One lesbian escapade and an explosive row over hair removal later, the contestants of Ibiza or Bust leave the island with more than sand in places they never knew existed…

My Review of The Brazilian

A holiday in Ibiza mixed with a reality TV event is going to give all the participants more than they bargained for.

Initially I didn’t think I was going to enjoy The Brazilian as I found the first character presented, Jane, totally vacuous and detestable. However, the more I read, the more I was sucked into what is a clever, witty and acerbic commentary on today’s society. As the tapestry of individuals increased I found all types were represented from the shy and retiring to the sexually prolific so that there is a person for every reader to respond to. By the end of the read I still hadn’t found Jane any better, but I really liked Grace, Bella and George. Similarly, the range of ages, gender and sexual proclivity all make for fascinating reading. I found looking at a reality television programme from the perspective of the producer, Simon, quite enlightening and his participation really appealed to me.

I wish I had read the first book to introduce all the characters, The Square, as I think that would have eased me in to the story more rapidly, but Rosie Millard has a deft touch in bringing her readers up to date so The Brazilian works well as a stand alone read.

The plot is well presented, with much of the action revolving around the reality television programme Ibiza (Or Bust) as well as the family dynamic of Patrick, Jane and George. However, it is the interplay of relationships that really brings the text alive – ironically just as the relationships are the lynchpin of such television programmes.

The stand out aspect of The Brazilian (alongside the dual meaning of the title!) is Rosie Millard’s devilish spotlight on today’s celebrity led society. She lays bare the contemptuous, the pathetic and the despicable as well as the admirable, the heroic and the realistic so that hers is a vivisection of how we have become obsessed with appearance and fame. So clever is the writing that I went from initially not much liking The Brazilian to thinking it was a perfect presentation of modern society. The Brazilian was a book I really enjoyed.

About Rosie Millard

Rosie Millard is a graduate of the University of Hull, London College of Communication and the Courtauld Institute. She has been a Trustee of the Carnegie (UK) Foundation, Home Live Art and Modern Art Oxford.

A journalist and author, Rosie Millard is Chair of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.